Screen time is arguably the hottest parenting topic of the past 20 years. A pandemic that closed schools and caused kids to be home at all times forced the topic into the spotlight even further.
It’s natural for parents to freak out every time a new study about children and devices comes out, but here’s our advice: Don’t. The evidence between screen time and cognitive or behavior development isn’t super strong. Plus, parents cannot blame themselves for handing a kid a tablet when it’s time for a Zoom meeting, dinner prep, or a nap, especially when it’s high-quality content like an educational show. Read more…
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OUR PICK
Qustodio
From Instagram and YouTube monitoring to a panic button for kids away from home, Qustodio covers just about everything.
- Free version: Yes
- Five devices: $ 54.95/year
- 10 devices: $ 96.95/year
- 15 devices: $ 137.95/month
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BEST FOR LARGE FAMILIES
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Parents juggling multiple schedules will like how Kaspersky keeps close tabs on kids away from home.
- Free version: Yes
- Unlimited devices with Premium: $ 14.99/month
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BEST COMBO WITH ANTIVIRUS
Norton 360 Deluxe
Get webcam protection, malware threat alerts, and reliable parental controls in Norton’s sweet package deal.
- Norton Family Premier (without antivirus): $ 49.99/month
- Five devices with Norton 360 Delxue: $ 99.99/year
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BEST FOR IPHONES
Net Nanny
Net Nanny/Zift is a rare Apple-friendly choice and one of the most approachable apps on the kid’s end.
- One desktop: $ 39.99/year
- Five devices: $ 54.99/year
- 20 devices: $ 89.99/year
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BEST FOR CHROMEBOOKS
Circle with Disney
Instead of downloading software, Circle is a WiFi-based monitoring solution with a well-designed app.
- Free version: Yes
- Circle subscription: $ 9.99/month
- Circle Home Plus (hardware device): $ 129
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BUDGET PICK
Mobicip
If you can deal with a few quirks, Mobicip has decently customizable web settings at competitive pricing.
- Free version: No
- Five devices: $ 4.15/month
- 10 devices: $ 7.50/month
- 15 devices: $ 10.41/month
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